Nijimura sits down heavily in front of a waterfall near Tazuna's home, nominally keeping watch on the genin while they fine-tune their chakra control. Nominally, because the monsters that they are, Akashi and Midorima are already at the top of the waterfall, peering down at the others. Aomine and Haizaki are almost there too, egging each other on in some kind of weird competition where they're only sending chakra down one arm and leg to stick to the water as they climb. Murasakibara is far behind the rest of them, still only three quarters up the waterfall – not because he can't do it, but because he obviously doesn't care. And Kuroko is… Nijimura looks to his left. Kuroko is still barely halfway up the tree and he's already looking exhausted, Satsuki barking encouragement up at him from the ground.

Nijimura slouches down further. Something needs to be done about Kuroko. If it is just a lack of chakra problem, he can still go into taijutsu. Unfortunate, but not insurmountable. But in his case, not only does Kuroko need that chakra for Nara's shadow techniques, his physical ability is also at the very bottom. What a waste.

Feeling the presence of Sanada behind him, Nijimura turns to face the jounin. "I thought you're keeping an eye on Tazuna?"

Sanada looks at him. "My summon came back."

Nijimura quickly sits up straight again. "What did the Hokage say?"

"He wants the genin to make the decision," Sanada says grimly.

Nijimura raises an eyebrow. "Okay…and what does Root say?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Sanada says wryly.

Nijimura shakes his head slowly. "Murasakibara and Haizaki will want to leave. They think this is too much bother. Aomine and Midorima are kind. They will want to help. Akashi…"

"Akashi-kun will want to stay," Kuroko says suddenly from beside Nijimura. "I want to stay and help too."

Nijimura shouts in surprise and jumps to his feet. Sanada too looks like he's just seen a ghost, one hand on his belt. It really is such a pity about Kuroko.

"What happened?" comes the voices of Aomine and the others, making their way over having completed the waterfall climb. "Did Tetsu surprise you guys? Isn't it kind of embarrassing getting one-upped by a genin?"

"Isn't it kind of embarrassing having the worst academic scores of all of the genin?" Nijimura retorts, flicking Aomine's forehead sharply.

"Ow!"

Sanada coughs, adjusting his glasses. "Be that as it may, we have received correspondence from Konohagakure. As this is your first mission out of the village, you six will get to decide how to proceed from now on. We have completed the mission of bringing our client to the Land of Waves, it is well within our purview to leave." Sanada pauses.

The genin look at each other, having a conversation with their eyes. Nijimura feels a bit of pride that they've progressed to this point, then embarrassed – what does it have to do with him, after all?

Murasakibara heaves a long-suffering sigh; beside him, Haizaki turns away with a tsk. It looks like the discussion is over. Akashi faces Nijimura and Sanada fully, expression grave. "We wish to take up Tazuna-san's mission to protect the builders and the bridge from Gatou."

"Even if it means having to go up against Zabuza?" Nijimura reminds them. "He has at least one helper that we know of. And that's not counting whatever other shinobi Gatou has working for him."

"The Hokage says that a re-evaluation of our mission can make it as high as A-rank," Sanada adds.

There is another exchange of glances, Kuroko nods once firmly. Akashi turns back. "Yes. We would like to take on this mission."

"Very well." Sanada closes his eyes briefly. Nijimura knows he's wondering what he should tell Root. They won't be happy about Akashi facing life-endangering risk so far from Konoha. It's only natural to want Konoha to have possession of Akashi's eyes if and when he dies. "Tazuna starts work on the bridge tomorrow. We will be going with him." Sanada turns to Aomine. "You and Kuroko stay behind just in case. Whether anything happens to Tazuna's family or not, it's better to leave Kuroko as our trump card."

Sanada waits for their acknowledgement then makes his way back to Tazuna's place. Nijimura nods at Sanada as he passes, he'll keep an eye on Akashi while Sanada is with Tazuna.

Nijimura turns back as Aomine lets out a loud curse. "Does that mean I have to spend tomorrow with that brat?"

"Don't call Inari a brat," Kuroko says reproachfully. "He is a traumatised little boy lashing out."

"It's not his fault that commoner children aren't inured to death," Akashi says firmly. "Don't bait him, Aomine."

"I haven't been baiting him," Aomine protests. "That's Haizaki. I just think he gives up too easily."

"Commoner children are so frail," Murasakibara adds derisively, either uncaring or not even noticing the way Midorima is twitching.

Watching Midorima start shouting at Murasakibara on one side while Haizaki and Aomine get into yet another fistfight on the other, Nijimura quietly readjusts his assessment. They still have a long way to go to become proper teams.